When you see the green expert checkmark on a wikiHow article, you can trust that the article was co-authored by a qualified expert.

This particular article was co-authored by Ashley Adams. Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

The authors of this article cited 24 references, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

High ponytails are one of the most versatile styles available for long hair. They combine the sporty practicality of a traditional ponytail with the elegance of an updo. To create your own high ponytail, you can do a basic one or one with more volume. You can also use a few tricks to make it fancier.

Steps

Method1

Styling a High Ponytail

1

Use this style on day-old hair. While you can use this style anytime, it can actually work better on hair that's not freshly washed. If you did just wash your hair, it can help to add a little dry shampoo. You can also add hairspray, if that's your preference. These products will help make it easier to style.[1]

2

Brush out your hair thoroughly. Make sure you don't have any tangles or knots in your hair. Styling tangled hair can cause severe knots when you take down your hairdo. It's important to brush in the direction of the ponytail. That is, brush as if you are trying to sweep your hair into a ponytail, brushing towards the crown of your head. That means also flipping your head over to brush upwards toward the crown.[2]

3

Tease the hair on your crown slightly. Lift a small section of your hair about midway to the crown. Backcomb towards the roots gently with a teasing comb. This teasing helps round your hair and give it volume at the top.[3]

4

Gather your hair into a ponytail. Hold the hair in place at the back of your crown with one hand. Smooth out with a brush or comb, but only do so lightly on the top of your head where you teased it.[4]

You may want to add just a little bit of product like serum or gel to your hair as you pull it up. This can help tame flyaways and give you a smoother overall look.

5

Secure the ponytail in place with an elastic band. Pull the band around your ponytail onto the crown of your head. Twist the band into a figure 8 and pull the new loop back through your hair. Repeat this movement until the hair tie is tight enough that it stays put.[5]

Do not use a rubber band, as that will tangle your hair and could even break some strands. Always use a hair tie made for hair. You may need an extra thick one for a high ponytail.[6]

To look extra nice, take a small section of hair from the bottom of your ponytail and carefully wrap it around the elastic. Secure it with a bobby pin running along the bottom of the hair tie to completely disguise it.[7]

6

Set the style with hairspray. Lightly spray hairspray over the part of your hair that is secure. This will help to keep your hair in place.[8]

7

Smooth out the last few flyaways. Spray a dedicated toothbrush with some hairspray. Run the toothbrush along any stray hairs that you missed. This technique will help hold them down without flattening your crown.[9]

Method2

Creating a Ponytail With Volume

1

Brush your hair out. Just like in the first ponytail, brush your hair so it is going the direction you want it to go, towards the crown of your head. That includes flipping your head over so that you are brushing up towards the ponytail in the back. This technique helps getting your hair going where it needs to go.[10]

2

Tease the top of your head. Use a teasing brush or a rat tail comb to comb gently back towards your roots while holding a section of your hair up. The teasing will give your hair volume.[11]

3

Gather the back of your hair first. In this style, you're actually putting a ponytail on top of a ponytail. Pull the hair just from your ears back into a small ponytail at the crown of your head. Use your hands to smooth it out, and secure it with a hair tie.[12]

4

Tease the roots of the ponytail. Hold the hair in the ponytail up. Use a teasing comb to lightly comb back towards the holder. This process will help create volume.[13]

5

Gather the rest of the hair. Leaving the first ponytail in place, pull the other hair up around the first ponytail. Smooth out the hair with your hands, or if you need to, a brush. Secure it around the first ponytail with another holder.[14]

6

Use hairspray to tame the ponytail. Lightly spray the hair in place with hairspray.[15] You can also use a dedicated toothbrush with hairspray on it to smooth out any loose hairs.[16]

Method3

Dressing Up Your Ponytail

1

Add a simple poof. You can add a front poof fairly easily. Start with brushed hair. Section out the front part of your hair just on the top. Twist the hair together near the roots at the back of the section. Push the hair towards the front, causing it to rise up in to a poof in the front. Secure it with bobby pins or a small hair clip, then proceed with putting your hair up in a ponytail.

Use your eyebrows to gauge how much hair you should pull back. The section shouldn't be wider than your eyebrows.

2

Add a poof through teasing. You can also try adding a poof by teasing the top section more than normal. Section away the top of your hair. Pull the bottom half of your hair into a ponytail. Hold the top section up, and brush the bottom few inches back towards your head, creating volume. Brush it more than you would in a normal ponytail. You can also use a volumizing spray to help the poof along. Try not too smooth it too much when you pull the top section back into a ponytail on top of the other ponytail.[17]

3

Add poofs to the ponytail for long hair. Visually separate the length of your ponytail into four sections. Use three different ponytail holders to separate your hair into those sections, starting with the top one.[18]

Move a couple inches down from your main ponytail holder, and add in a another holder, winding it back and forth until it's tight.[19]

Pull the hair a little bit in that section to poof it out. Move on to the next holder, adding it in like the last one but moving a few inches down.[20]

Finally, put the last holder in. You can also wear a headband with this look.[21]

4

Add waves. After you comb your hair and before you put it up, add a few waves to your hair with a curling iron. Simply wrap your hair around it in small sections, turning it in the opposite direction from your face. Hold it for a few seconds to set it, then let it go. Move on to the next small section.[22]

You can also add in waves after you've put your hair up.

5

Pull your bangs or a few pieces of hair out. If you want your ponytail to look softer, pull a few strands of hair out of the ponytail on each side of your face. Brush them so that they fall around your face. You can also use a curling iron here to add a bit of wave.[23]

Another way to get a softer look is to do a messy ponytail. Don't add products like serum or hairspray, and don't secure the ponytail too tight. This gives the style a more casual feel.

If you have a natural part that's stubborn, it would be best to apply hairspray or gel with a strong hold along the hairline and near the part. Smooth the hair up into a ponytail with a brush, and secure it with a hair tie.

You don't have to use hairspray. But if you're planning to leave your hair up in a high ponytail all day, you're more likely to get fly-aways if you don't use hairspray or some kind of gel to keep the hair close to your head smoothed down.

To make a high ponytail, brush your hair up toward the crown of your head, making sure to brush out any tangles that might be in your hair. Lift a small section of your hair near your crown and gently comb backward to give your hair more volume, then gather all of your hair at the back of your crown. Smooth out your hair with a brush or comb, then secure the ponytail in place with an elastic band. Set the style with hairspray to keep it in place.